Hocker on preseason all-SEC football teamFAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas Razorbacks placed three offensive players and a specialist on the preseason All-SEC first team selected by the coaches. Arkansas did not have any representatives on the first unit defense. All told, Arkansas has 10 players on the team, a total second only to 11 representatives for Western Division opponents Alabama and LSU. Arkansas’ first team representatives include quarterback Tyler Wilson, running back Knile Dav...

7th ATU Invitational opens todaySome of the 23 teams from colleges and universities in and around Arkansas listen to the rules for the seventh Arkansas Tech University Invitational fishing tournament today and Saturday on Lake Dardanelle. Weigh-in for both days is at 2 p.m. at the state park’s fishing pavilion. The tournament is the opening event of the 2012-13 school year. The ATU Fishing Team won the first BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing School of the Year award recently.

Two kickers named to watch listFAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas kickers Zach Hocker and Dylan Breeding have been named to national lists for awards that recognize their specialties. Hocker is up for the Lou Groza award; Breeding is on checklist for the Ray Guy award. Hocker, a junior from Russellville, broke the Arkansas single-season record for points by a kicker with 118 last year. That was best in the Southeastern Conference and 17th in the NCAA. Handling kickoffs for the first t...

Work underway on synthetic turf for ATU stadiumCrews were leveling out the foundation for the new playing surface at Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field on the Arkansas Tech University campus Tuesday, and the first section of gold turf that will help make the north end zone was stretched out in front of the goalpost. The ATU Board of Trustees approved the installation of a new synthetic turf surface during its April meeting, and trustees voted to award the contract for the project to Sprinturf ...

ATU Invitational starts FridayArkansas Tech University’s Fishing Club is kicking off the 2012-13 season with its seventh annual ATU Invitational tournament Friday and Saturday on Lake Dardanelle. But it’s going to be a while before they forget their many accomplishments of 2011-12 that led to the distinction of being the nation’s first collegiate bass fishing School of the Year after amassing 896 points in a new points system designed and maintained by the Association of C...

Plenty of summer camps leftArkansas Tech University — home of the Great American Conference All-Sports Trophy in its first year of existence — started the month of May with 34 summer camps in seven sports. But there are 22 more summer camps boys and girls can enroll in before the month of August, and preseason football, golf, volleyball and cross country arrive. ATU’s football Wonder Boys will host its second youth camp from 8:30 a.m. to noon Monday through Wednesday. F...

Finnegan named to all-Arkansas teamArkansas Tech junior first baseman Jonathan Finnegan received yet another postseason honor Tuesday when he was named to Natural State Baseball’s 2012 all-Arkansas team. Natural State Baseball is a blog that covers all levels of baseball inside the state of Arkansas. Fellow Wonder Boys Aaron Luchterhand, Landon Sullins, Nate Wilder, Madison Beaird of Russellville and Thomas Biocic were named honorable mention all-Arkansas selections. Finnegan w...

Presidents approve college football playoffWASHINGTON (AP) — College football will finally have a playoff. Come 2014, the BCS is dead. A committee of university presidents on Tuesday approved the BCS commissioners’ plan for a four-team playoff to start in two years. “A four team playoff doesn’t go too far,” Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger said. “It goes just the right amount.” The move completes a six-month process for the commissioners, who have been working on a new way to ...

This is the end, my friendsIt’s been 3 1/2 years in the making, but the time has come. This will (most likely) be the last column I will write for The Courier. I am moving on and chasing another opportunity, one that will give my family a little more stability and freedom. But that’s not to say that I do so with no reservations in my heart. To be honest, I’m really going to miss coming to the newsroom, talking with my coworkers, visiting with area coaches, media persons...

Reynolds Signs With MetsFAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas third baseman Matt Reynolds is moving on to professional baseball. Reynolds signed with the New York Mets on Monday, ending his three-year career with the Razorbacks. He was selected by the Mets in the second round of the Major League Baseball Draft earlier this month and wrapped up his Arkansas career in the College World Series last week. The Tulsa native enjoyed a strong junior season, leading the Razorbacks in most ...

Razorbacks fall to South Carolina, end season at CWSOMAHA, Neb. — Arkansas knew the only way to win the national championship was by beating a team which had practically made Omaha its second home the past two seasons. The Razorbacks couldn’t accomplish it Friday. The result? A season-ending loss in Omaha. South Carolina battled back from an early deficit to beat the Razorbacks 3-2, eliminating Arkansas from the College World Series. The Gamecocks, who have won two straight national titles, sco...

South Carolina shuts out Arkansas 2-0 in CWSOMAHA, Neb. — South Carolina got a brilliant pitching performance by staff ace Michael Roth to stay alive in the College World Series on Thursday afternoon. The Gamecocks got another one from left-hander Jordan Montgomery a few hours later, beating Arkansas 2-0 to force a final game for a spot in the championship series. Montgomery kept the two-time champs alive once again, limiting Arkansas to three hits in eight innings before turning the ga...

Arkansas Razorbacks eye third straight win in CWSOMAHA, Neb. — Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn made up his mind Wednesday morning, selecting his starting pitcher for tonight’s game. Left-hander Randall Fant will be on the mound as Arkansas tries to secure a spot in the College World Series’ championship series The reason for the choice? There are many, but above all else is this: Why change a formula which has been working so well?. “We’re going to just keep doing what we’ve been doing,” Van Ho...

ATU announces 2012 football scheduleArkansas Tech University’s department of athletics announced Tuesday the Wonder Boys’ 2012 football schedule. The schedule represents a return to a full conference slate of eight games after an abbreviated run (five games) in the Great American Conference’s inaugural season. Arkansas Tech will enjoy seven home games in 2012 on the new artificial turf field currently being installed in Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field. “Due to the nature of our s...

Vinson making mark on CWSOMAHA, Neb. — Arkansas outfielder Matt Vinson holds one dubious distinction at the 2012 College World Series. His batting average entering the first-round games (.208) was the lowest among any of the 72 players penciled in as starters. But after two games, it’s hard to find anyone with two more important hits. “He’s been big for us,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. Vinson, batting near the bottom of Arkansas’ order, has driven in three runs...

Another award for YoungCLARKSVILLE — For the second straight year, University of the Ozarks guard April Young was named the American Southwest Conference Distinguished Scholar-Athlete for women’s basketball, the league office announced Monday. The honor, in its fifth academic year, recognizes student-athletes that achieve a higher level of academic achievement (a 3.20 grade-point average or better) while competing as a starter or important reserve on their team. Fro...

Hogs end South Carolina’s record streakOMAHA, Neb. — Arkansas snapped South Carolina’s 12-game Southeastern Conference win streak earlier this season, winning the second game in a three-game series in Fayetteville. On Monday, the Razorbacks accomplished something even more significant in the College World Series. Arkansas snapped South Carolina’s record 22-game NCAA Tournament win streak, which included 12 straight wins here in Omaha. The Razorbacks relied on strong pitching once a...

Young receiver finds way following dad’s suicideJONESBORO (AP) — All at once, the thoughts overwhelmed Allen Muse. One after another, before he could finish exhaling and start another breath. The Arkansas State wide receiver stood in the doorway, eyes darting in all directions, scanning every inch of the bedroom. How did this happen? What am I going to do? I should have known. Oh, God. Please make it stop. Just a few days earlier, Muse’s father had stood in the same doorway during a visit t...

Arkansas Razorbacks beat Kent State 8-1 in CWSOMAHA, Neb. — Arkansas third baseman Matt Reynolds hit into three double plays Saturday and went 0-for-3 in his College World Series debut. First baseman Dominic Ficociello didn’t fair much better, going 0-for-3 right behind Reynolds in the batting order. The combined 0-for-6 performance normally would signal trouble for an Arkansas lineup which had problems scoring runs throughout much of the 2012 season. It proved to be just an afterthought ...

Arkansas stuns Baylor 1-0, reaches CWSWACO, Texas (AP) — Jake Wise drove in a run with a two-out single in the top of the 10th inning and the Arkansas Razorbacks advanced to the College World Series with a 1-0 victory over Baylor in the deciding game of their super regional on Monday night. The Arkansas win was just the third 1-0 finish in a super regional. Wise, a sophomore catcher who had entered the game as a defensive replacement, grounded a ball into left field out of the rea...